The State of Ransomware report for Q3 2025 highlights a sustained high level of ransomware activity globally, with 1,592 new victims identified across 85 active data leak sites. This indicates that ransomware operators continue to successfully breach organizations and exfiltrate data for extortion. The ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) model shows increased fragmentation, meaning multiple independent affiliates and operators are deploying ransomware variants, complicating detection and response. Lockbit, a well-known ransomware group, has re-emerged prominently, suggesting a resurgence of their campaigns or new variants. While no specific software vulnerabilities or exploits are mentioned, the stable number of victims implies that attackers continue leveraging common attack vectors such as phishing, credential theft, and exploiting weak remote access configurations. The data leak sites serve as pressure points to force ransom payments by threatening public exposure of stolen data. This environment demands heightened vigilance and adaptive defenses from organizations. The report underscores the persistent threat ransomware poses to data confidentiality, system integrity, and operational availability, with significant financial and reputational consequences.

European organizations face substantial risks from this ransomware activity due to their reliance on digital infrastructure and the presence of critical sectors such as manufacturing, finance, healthcare, and government services. Successful ransomware attacks can lead to data breaches, operational downtime, regulatory penalties under GDPR, and erosion of customer trust. The fragmentation of RaaS increases the diversity and volume of attacks, making defense more challenging. The reappearance of Lockbit, known for aggressive double-extortion tactics, heightens the threat of data leaks and prolonged recovery times. Disruptions can cascade across supply chains and critical services, impacting economic stability and public safety. The persistent victim count suggests that current defenses are insufficient, emphasizing the need for tailored mitigation strategies. European entities must also consider the geopolitical context, as ransomware groups may target organizations based on political or economic motivations.

1. Implement advanced threat intelligence integration to detect emerging ransomware variants and affiliate activity, including monitoring of data leak sites. 2. Enforce strict network segmentation to limit lateral movement in case of compromise. 3. Deploy multi-factor authentication (MFA) across all remote access and critical systems to reduce credential-based attacks. 4. Regularly update and patch all software and hardware to close exploitable vulnerabilities, even though no specific CVEs are cited. 5. Maintain offline, immutable backups tested frequently to ensure rapid recovery without paying ransom. 6. Conduct continuous user awareness training focused on phishing and social engineering tactics. 7. Utilize endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools with behavioral analytics to identify ransomware activity early. 8. Establish incident response plans specifically addressing ransomware scenarios, including legal and communication strategies. 9. Collaborate with national cybersecurity centers and share threat intelligence within industry sectors to improve collective defense. 10. Restrict administrative privileges and monitor for unusual account activity to detect insider threats or compromised credentials.